Releasable buoy for submarines

ABSTRACT

My invention has for its object a buoy adapted to be released by a wrecked submarine so as to define its location at sea, the release and operation of said buoy being obtained automatically in the case of a grounding at a considerable depth or else at the end of a predetermined period during which the crew has ceased being active or else purposely by the crew. To this end, the buoy anchored to the submarine is provided with a circuit producing its release with reference to the submarine by cutting out its moorings, said circuit being closed either purposely by control means located in the submarine or else automatically through the pressure prevailing at a depth which is normally forbidden to submarines or again under the action of a delayed means which is to be reset periodically by the crew so as to act on the releasing circuit only when the crew is no longer fit for resetting said means. The buoy includes furthermore signalling means wherethrough its position may be ascertained.

United States Patent 2/1942 Rivera....,

3,451,079 6/1969 Hagan 9/9 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. BlixAttorney-Young and Thompson ABSTRACT: My invention has for its object abuoy adapted to be released by a wrecked submarine so as to define itslocation at sea, the release and operation of said buoy being obtainedautomatically in the case of a grounding at a considerable depth or elseat the end of a predetermined period during which the crew has ceasedbeing active or else purposely by the crew. To this end, the buoyanchored to the submarine is provided with a circuit producing itsrelease with reference to the submarine by cutting out its moorings,said circuit being closed either purposely by control means located inthe submarine or else automatically through the pressure prevailing at adepth which is normally forbidden to submarines or again under theaction of a delayed means which is to be reset periodically by the crewso as to act on the releasing circuit only when the crew is no longerfit for resetting said means. The buoy includes furthermore signallingmeans wherethrough its position may be ascertained.

PATENIED JUN 1 1971 SHEET 1 0F 6 (/HMES 648.957

SHEET 5 BF 6 PATENIED JUN 1 I9" PATENTED JUN l 197i SHEET 6 UF 6RELEASABLE BIJOY IFOR SUBMARINES My invention has for its object meansfor producing the automatic or voluntary release of the buoy carried bythe wrecked submarine said buoy emerging always in an accurately uprightposition so as to ensure and fulfill its information duty under allcircumstances whatever may have happened on board.

My invention has also for its object a buoy adapted to transmit codedradio signals and also intermittent optic signals as sociated withfurther locating means constituted by smokes and local coloring of thesea water.

My invention has still more for its object the possibility of anautonomous telephonic connection between the buoy and submarine providedthe rope connecting the latter with the buoy is not cutoff as would bethe case if the submarine were grounded at a considerable depth. Saidtelephonic connection allows in fact the crew to transmit directly at adistance through wireless all information providing an alann whereby aprecious time is saved between the moment of the wrecking and thearrival of relief. This telephonic connection is ensured by the actualconnecting rope which is provided with three leads and unwound by thebuoy as it rises up to the sea level starting from the groundedsubmarine. Furthermore said rope is associated with automatic meanswhich are such that in all cases and under all circumstances therelease, emersion of the buoy and transmission of information by thebuoy cannot be disturbed.

My invention has again for its object a buoy wherein all the control andinformation means are entirely autonomous and controlled automaticallyby the buoy itself or else are subjected to the control exerted by thecrew acting on means associated with a casing carried in the submarineand communicating with the buoy circuits through two fluidtight contactstuds which are disconnected automatically through the actual release ofthe buoy.

My invention has-lastly for its object a buoy providing for the crew afeeling of safety which is all the more important as it allows anautomatic wireless connection with remote telephone stations in case ofa mishap and in all cases an automatic alarm signalling.

The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example an embodiment ofa buoy according to my invention together with a few details andmodifications thereof. In said drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are an elevational view and a view from above of an entirebuoy in the shape of a sphere capped by a cone in the case illustrated.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate similarly a buoy of a slightly differentcylindrical shape.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are the two halves of the circuit system which are carriedrespectively in the buoy and in the submarine, the casing enclosing mostof the submarine part of the circuit system being shown apart for sakeof clarity.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are axial sectional views of two modifications of afluidtight anchoring pin adapted to be released upon ignition of anexplosive charge.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a fluidtight tubeadapted to produce smokes or to project coloring matter onto the seasurface.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the upper fluidtight end of the buoyincluding by way of exemplification means for the automatic unwinding ofthe wireless aerial.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an embodiment of two fluidtight contactstudsensuring an electric connection between the buoy and the submarineand serving for the transmission of voluntary control signals by thecrew.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate two different arrangements of the ropeconnecting the buoy with the submarine before the buoy is released.

FIG. 14 illustrates two positions assumed by the emersed buoy fordifferent points of attachment of the rope to the buoy.

FIG. 15 illustrates a detail of one of the delaying means adapted to bereset by the crew and carried respectively in the submarine and in thebuoy.

FIG. 16 illustrates diagrammatically the section of the circuittransmitting the orders given out by the crew through the telephonicmeans provided by the crew.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a modification of the automatic cablelocking and releasing means, said means allowing possibly an automaticbreaking of said rope.

FIG. 18 is a modification of the section of the diagram of FIG. 5extending between the points W and W and adapted for use together withthe arrangement illustrated in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 illustrates by way of example a modification of the meanssecuring the rope to the buoy and allowing if required its breakingunder the action of an explosive charge.

FIG. 20 illustrates an arrangement for automatically releasing the buoywhen the submarine has sunk down to a considerable depth.

The shaped buoy illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is constituted by anassembly of three sections 1, 2, 3 forming a fluidtight float resting ona support 4. The whole arrangement is fitted in a recess provided forthis purpose in the outer wall of the submarine. The buoy is moored tothe latter by pins 18 adapted to be released automatically while theelectric connections are performed by two connecting studs 19. Thesubmarine is furthermore connected with the buoy through the rope 16enclosing three insulated leads fluidtightly secured to the buoy at 15after passing through intermediate means 17 holding the rope fast andallowing possibly a breaking thereof if required, said last-mentionedmeans defining the point at which the rope exerts a tractional stress onthe buoy.

The buoy is associated with various elements carried inside it or elsein outer fluidtight recesses so as to further their replacement oroperation, said elements being additional to those mentionedhereinabove. These elements include in particular a fluidtightarrangement 15 enclosing the transmitting aerial 61 adapted to unwindautomatically upon emersion of the buoy and the luminous signallingarrangement 69 to be described hereinafter, the fluidtight housing 6 forthe selfgenerating telephone station 207 connected with the submarine bythe leads inside the rope 16, the recesses 7 and 8 enclosing theautomatic means producing smokes and coloring material, the recess 9closed by a fluidtight cover and carrying the contact studs P for thechecking of the electric circuits and the proper operative condition ofthe different parts of the buoy, the fluidtight housings 10 and 11 forthe pressure gauges operating under maximum and minumum pressureconditions as disclosed hereinafter, the fluidtight housings 12 and 13for the batteries ensuring the autonomous operation of the buoy andlastly the automatic means 14 releasing the buoy when the submarine hassunk down to a considerable depth.

The buoy illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs through its shape andlocation of certain of its parts from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.The whole arrangement is cylindrical which furthers its fitting alongthe outer surface of the submarine while the batteries 12 and 13 areinserted in a further lower fluidtight section. The different sectionsforming the buoy are connected automatically with the assembly throughconventional fluidtight pin systems.

The electric circuits illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 include chiefly inthe buoy (FIG. 3) the releasing circuit L 254 associated with thebatteries 401 and 402 and adapted to energize the relays releasing theanchoring pins 18 and controlling upon emersion of the buoy theoperation of the wireless system and of the other means defining thelocation of the wreck. Said releasing circuit may be closed by any ofthree switches inserted in parallel at 41, 40 and 226' and controlledrespectively by a pressure gauge 14 or the like arrangement adapted tooperate if the submarine sinks down to a depth greater than theauthorized depth of immersion, by a relay 251 controlled purposely bythe crew through depression of one of the emergency pusher knobs 210,210', 210" arranged at various parts of the submarine, and by theresettable delaying system D carried by the buoy, the resetting of whichis normally executed periodically through actuation of the control knob235 carried by the casing 201 inside the submarine and shown apart inFIG. 6. The circuits in said casing are connected with the circuits inthe buoy through the connecting studs 19 (FIGS. 1 to 4) as alreadymentioned or else through a short cable 87 terminating as describedhereinafter with reference to FIG. 11 with studs numbered 80 and 81 forthe submarine and 82 and 83 for the buoy. Said casing includesfurthermore batteries 403, 404, a resettable delaying system D identicalwith the resettable delaying system D of the buoy inserted in serieswith the latter and subjected to the same setting produced by theoperation of the knob 235.

The buoy or buoys are secured to the submarine by three or fouranchoring pins 18 (FIGS. 1 to 4), the securing means of which areillustrated in FIG. 7 with further detail. The actual pin 33 which is toremain rigid with the submarine over which it is held fast by thedisconnectable hair pin 36 is fitted in a body 31 screwed inside arecess formed at 32 in the wall of the buoy. The pin 33 is held fast insaid body 32 by a disc 34 which breaks open upon firing of the explosivecharge 35 whereby the buoy is released in the cases defined hereinabove.

In the case ofa modification illustrated in FIG. 8, the pin 33 securedby a bolt 36' to the submarine is held fast inside the body 31 by alayer of explosive material 35 cast between the said pin and body. Saidmodification produces less shocks and vibrations at the moment of therelease of the buoy than the arrangement of FIG. 7.

I will now describe with further detail the different circuits of FIGS.and 6 together with the different safety means incorporated therewith,beginning with the description of the two resettable delaying systems Dand D. The latter, which have received in FIGS. 5 and 6 the samereference numbers except for the addition of the index in FIG. 5,include as illustrated more clearly in FIG. a shaft 215 rigid with atoothed wheel 214 adapted to wind the spiral spring 216. Said shaft 215is driven by a pinion 217 driven in its turn by an auxiliary motor 218through the agency of a cardan joint, said wheel 214 serving thus forthe setting of the spiral spring 216. The pinion 217 is carried by alever 220 pivoting at 221 and urged normally by the spring 222 againstthe stop 223 so as to disconnect the pinion 217 with reference to thetoothed wheel 214. An electromagnet 224 in series with the motor 218attracts the lever 220 so as to engage the pinion 217 with the toothedwheel 214 as soon as the motor 218 is energized. A ratchet wheel 214acarried loose by the shaft 215 is rigid with a conventional speedreducing system 220 and revolves freely in the direction of the arrowsdrawn in FIGS. 5 and 6 but, in contradistinction, it is carried along bythe catches 219 on the wheel 214 in the opposite direction when thecircuit feeding the motor 218 and the electromagnet 224 is cut off sothat the ratchet wheel 214a revolves then in the opposite directionunder the action of the set spring 216 but at a reduced speed by reasonof the presence of the speed reducing means 220. For instance, thesetting may be executed in 10 sec. and the slow return movement in 2hours. It should be remarked that a 6-volt circuit fed as disclosedhereinafter through the battery 403 of the casing 201 closes in serieswhen the push button 235 is depressed, the circuits passing through bothmotors 218, 218' and electromagnets 224 and 224'.

The delaying system D carried by the buoy is provided in addition to theparts described for the system D with an induction coil 236 and acondenser 252 which are associated with the circuit feeding the motor218' and electromagnet 224 for the reasons disclosed hereinafter.

In both systems D and D the toothed wheel such as 214 carries aneccentric stud 225 closing at the end of the return movement of thetoothed wheel 214 the contact 226 so as to ignite in the casing 201inside the submarine the witness lamp 227 showing that the correspondingcontact 226' closed in the buoy has actually initiated the buoyreleasing procedure as disclosed hereinafter since both arrangements Dand D operate always synchronously. The delayed systems which have thusbeen reset return now slowly to their operative position for which theyclose the contacts at 226 and 226 so that the buoy is actually releasedunless a person of the crew operates in proper time the pusher knob 235to reset the systems D and D as should be the case in the absence of anymishap.

The safety switch C carried by the casing 201 in the submarine isprovided with an arm 211 which should normally be located in its locked,ready for operation position illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 6. Saidarm 24 is released by the closing of the contact 226 so as to open 230and 231.

As long as the submarine is inoperative and after closing of the switch405 a shifting of the arm 211 into the position A closes at 230 thecircuit from the 24-volt battery 404 through the connected studs 81, 83so as to energize inside the buoy the relays 260 and 261, which switchesofi at 27 the relay 273 which is protected against the high voltage bythe induction coil 236 and the condenser 252. The armature of the relay273 urged by its spring 265 disengages the raised catch of the relay 261which switches off the 24-volt circuit.

The contact 27 remains however open as long as the switch 405controlling the submarine batteries 403 and 404 remains closed. Thisprevents the automatic release of the buoy through a closing of theswitch 226' since the contact 26 in series with the latter is open andcannot close as long as the contact 27 is open. The return toinoperativeness of the buoy should therefore be obtained bydisconnecting the battery 401, 402 in the buoy before opening the switch405.

When the submarine is to be got under way, the arm 211 of the switch Cis held in its locked ready for operation position with the switches 230and 231 open which the switch 405 is closed and the switches controllingthe batteries 401, 402 are closed. The delayed systems are thenenergized by depressing the resetting knob 235. This closes the circuitenergizing the electromagnet 229 through the delayed relay 228. Thisreleases the arm 211 after say 5 sec. during which the resetting circuitenergizing simultaneously the systems D and D' causes the studs 225 and225' which were at the end of their travel to reopen the contacts 226and 226' safely in the submarine and in the buoy respectively. The arm211 when thus released switches the 24-volt circuit off the stud 81 and,as it passes over the arcuate contact piece 271, it connects the 6-voltcircuit from the battery 403 with the stud 81 and consequently with therelay 273 since the relay 260, no longer fed with 24 volts, no longeropens 27. The energization of 273 closes the contacts 26 and 263 and thecatch 270 of 261 reengages the armature of the relay 273 so as torestore the circuit provided for 24 volts through 261. This closing of26 cannot release the buoy through 226 and 251 (FIG. 6) by reason of thedelay at 228 delaying the movement of the arm 211 (FIG. 6).

The submarine batteries 403 and 404 are preferably independent from thesupply of energy to the submarine so as to ensure operation of thecasing circuits even in the case of a failure of said supply.

It should be remarked that the connection between the buoy and theinside of the submarine required for control of the crew is provided bythe studs and 81 stud sections 80" 81" fluidtightly carried by thesubmarine and engaging the cooperating collapsible stud sections 82",83" carried by a fluidtight member 84 fitted on the buoy at 85 andcentrally engaging the further fluidtight member 86 secured to thesubmarine in the housing provided for the buoy (FIG. 11). The connectionthrough studs may furthermore be replaced according to a modification bya short fluidtightly connected cable 87 enclosing two operative wiresand a grounded area (FIGS. 5 and 6) the cable being broken or theconnections being blown out at the moment of the release of the buoy at255 (FIG. 5).

Turning again to the delaying system D in the submarine, it includes inaddition to the system D two stationary conductive arcuate strips 233,234 inserted in series in the 6-volt circuit. Said arcuate stripsconcentric with the toothed wheel are normally interconnected by aradial switch 232 inserted across the path of the releasing contact 225which opens said switch at the end of its forward travel.

The periodical resetting of the systems D and D is performed bydepressing the knob 235 closing the 6-volt circuit which remains closedunder the action of its holding relay 237 until the radial switch 232 isopened at the end of the resetting operation at which moment the slowreturn movement of the arrangements D and D begins, so as to producewith a predetermined delay the release of the buoy, provided the 6- voltcircuit in which the switch 232 is closedas soon as the returnmovementhas started is not energized again through depression of theknob 235. It is also possible to adjust the duration of the resettingand consequently of the return movement defining the delay by shiftingthe switch 232 along the conductive strips 233 and 234.

The release of the buoy provided by the automatic or voluntary closing'of the releasing circuit L 254 produces through the agency of the relay180 (FIG. 6) the closing of the circuit igniting the anchoring pins 18and possibly of the means 255 provided for the breaking of the cable 87containing the electric connections between the fluidtight contacts onthe buoy and casing 201 when such a cable is substituted for theconnecting studs 19. The relay I80 switches off said igniting circuitwith a delay of for instance sec. in order to cut out any undesiredgrounding after ignition has been obtained.

As already mentioned the release of the buoy is defined either by thedelaying systems D and D' acting on the switch 226 if the crew hasallowed the predetermined delay to elapse without resetting said systemsthrough the knob 235 or else the release is obtained in the case of animpending danger upon depression of one of the emergency knobs 210,210', 210" so as to energize through the studs 80, 82 the relay 251controlling the switch 40 or again the release is obtained automaticallyat a depth normally forbidden through action of the pressure gauge orthe like means on the switch 41 inserted as already mentioned inparallel with the contacts 40 and 226.

The voluntary and instantaneous release is obtained through operation ofthe knobs 210, 210', 2l0",...which close the 6-volt circuit fed by thebattery 403 of the buoy over the relay 33 so as to ignite the witnesslamp 32 and close the holding contact 31 of the latter. At the same timethe relay 33 opens the 6-volt circuit of the systems D and D at 32 andcauses by acting on the contacts 34 and 36 the connections 80, 82between the buoy and casing to be shifted off the 6-volt feed from thebattery 40E onto the 24-volt feed from the battery 404.

Said voltage energizes the relay 251 which closes the switch 40 asmentioned sc as to ensure the release of the buoy. The relay 250 inparallel with 251 which is also energized switches off at 253 thecircuit of the arrangement D which is furthermore protected against saidvoltage by the induction coil 235 and capacity 252 as mentionedhereinabove. The relay 251 is furthermore locked at the end of itsoperative stroke by the catch 251.

In brief the control casing 201 allows the following operationsvoluntary release through the knob 210 inserted in parallel with otherknobs distributed within the submarine voluntary locking of theautomatic release against operation by the arm 211 of the switch Creturning automatically into its normal position periodical resetting ofthe delaying arrangements D and D through the knob 235 as long as thecrew is capable of proceeding with said operation furthermorepossibility of communicating through telephone with the emersed buoy andmore particularly with the wireless station on the latter, whichwireless station provides in all cases an automatic transmission ofemergency signals.

The buoy carries along as it rises the entirety of a rope 16 (FIG. 12)made for instance of nylon enclosing three electric wires embeddedwithin its mass. Said rope of a length of 400400 m. far instance isadvantageously coiled in a casing 90 (FIG. 12) independent of the buoyand adapted to serve as a support for the latter. said casing beingsecured to the buoy by bolts 91. The ends of the rope are connected withthe submarine and with the buoy through the corresponding fluidtightconnections 92 and 93.

At a short distance from the connection 93 the rope passes through anarrangement 17 adapted to define the point at which the rope exerts atractional stress on the buoy and where the ropemay be broken when thedepth at which the submarine is stranded is greater than the length ofthe rope.

FIG. 13 illustrates a modification which allows only that length of therope to be unwound which is required for the buoy to emerge at sealevel. In such a case the casing containing the rope is incorporatedwith the buoy and the rope secured to the submarine by a fluidtightconnection 101 passes between the elastic jaws guiding it 102, carriedby the casing so as to be connected fluidtightly with the buoy at 104while a central arrangement 103 of the type described hereinafter withreference to F I6. 17 provides for the release, locking, further releaseand possible breaking of the rope.

In both cases the point through which the rope exerts a tractionalaction on the buoy is transferred outside the axis of the latter.

As apparent from inspection of the left-hand side of FIG. 14 an axialsecuring at M urges the buoy into an oscillatory movement whereas alateral securing at N produces a torque setting the buoy straight asshown by the right-hand side of said FIG. 14.

A safety system for the resettable delaying means is constituted by acontact 240 inserted in the path of the contact 225 adapted to releasethe buoy, said contact 240 being closed by said contact 225 about 10min. for instance before the latter closes the switch 226 (FIG. 6). Saidcontact energizes the relay 241 which ignites the lamp 242 which isdrawn again on the separate illustration of casing 201 in FIG. 6. Saidrelay 241 releases also an acoustic signal at 243 and is furthermoredeenergized at x by the lever 220 when the 6-volt circuit of the delayedsystems D and D is closed so as to provide for the resetting of thelatter, during which said relay 241 should not operate.

Assuming the buoy has been released the means producing smokes andcoloring of the sea as illustrated at 7 and 8 in FIGS. 1 and 3 are readyto operate. Said means include a fluidtight casing 51 illustrated inFIG. 9. Inside said casing rigid with the buoy there is screwed afluidtight tube 52 containing a composition 53 producing smokes orcoloring matter 53 and held in position by the fluidtight cover 54 whichis released at the moment of the emersion of the buoy by an electriccurrent which tires the lanyard 55 and the explosive charge 56.

On the other hand the aerial 61 displayed when the buoy emerges may beconstituted as illustrated in FIG. 10 by means of coaxial telescopictubes 61, 64 which are drawn out and erected by a yielding central blade65 wound spirally inside the casing 66 and guided by said tubes. Saidblade is driven by a pinion 67 controlled by a motor 68 provided with aspeed reducer. A luminous signal 69 is located at the upper end of theinner tube 61 rigid with the upper end of the blade. Said signal is fedby the cable 70 coiled inside its housing 71 and extending axially ofthe aerial. When the aerial is entirely erected above the buoy aprojection 72 at the inner end of the blade 65 switches off at 73 thecurrent feeding the motor 68. The aerial arrangement rests on thesupport 74 screwed into the upper end of the buoy and forming with thecasing 66 a disconnectable unit. In the collapsed position illustrated,the aerial arrangement is enclosed inside a fluidtight chamber 76 closedby a cover 77 adapted to resist the maximum height of the water in whichthe buoy may be immersed, said cover being held in position by afluidtight cap made of nylon 78 which is held fast in its turn by thethreaded ring 79 engaging the packing 78'. A further packing 79 ensuresa fluidtightness of the support 74. The cover 77 is thrust away from thebuoy when the latter has reached the sea level as provided by the firingof the lanyard 82 cutting off the cap 78 and urging it away with thecover 77 so as to allow the aerial to be urged freely out of the buoy. Ayielding annular lining 83 provides fluidtightness against rain andspray for the lower section 64 of the aerial when the aerial isdisplayed above the buoy.

Instead of being telescopic, the aerial may include two symmetricallyshaped blades unwinding simultaneously under the action of two pinionssuch as 67 or else it may be of any type adapted to be unwound andenclosed within the fluidtight chamber 76 formed by the casing 66.

It is essential that the buoy may rise accurately without being everdisturbed by the presence of the rope and that the wireless receiver maybecome operative before the buoy emerges. I resort to two pressuregauges 280, 281 of a type devised by myself and adapted to resist apressure equal to once and a half the pressure corresponding to themaximum depth at which the submarine is allowed to operate. The pressuregauge 280 (FIG. is sensitive to a pressure under 5 cm. of water whilethe pressure gauge 281 becomes operative for a pressure corresponding toa depth of water above 70 em. Thus as long as the buoy lies in shallowwaters the contacts controlled by the pressure gauges lie in theposition illustrated so that the 6-volt voltage applied to the circuit L254 passes through the contacts 291, 321, 322 in the pulse-producingrelay means 326. These means are provided with a delay of 1 see. whenopening its contact and of sec. for the subsequent closing. Consequentlya pulse is fed once every 16 sec. by the contact 328 into the relay 329which produces a stepwise progression of a ratchet wheel 329 closing theswitch 330 at the end of an adjustable number of pulse, say 30. Afterabout 30x16 see. that is about 8 minutes the contacts controlling thepressure gauges should open if they are no longer closed by the pressureof water. If they remain closed as a consequence of some mishap whichprevents the buoy from reaching the sea level, the arrangement which hasjust been described closes then through its contact 330 a circuit firingthe charge 205 which cuts off the rope and releases the buoy which actshenceforward as a free signalling buoy.

In contradistinction if the buoy emerges under normal conditions thepressure gauge 280 operates for a minimum pressure and closes thecontact 293 which through the agency of the relay 294 sets the aerialand its auxiliaries in their operative position, the relay 294 beingdelayed by 5 sec. in its closing so as to prevent the aerial from beingprojected outside the buoy as a consequence ofa transient rising of thebuoy before it is stabilized at sea level. The relay 294 controlled bythe relay 294' and which is delayed by 3 sec. energizes through itscontact 297 the transmitting station 301 and through its contact 296 thearrangement including the luminous signal 69 through its blinker 299.The relay 294' has closed furthermore the circuit shunted off thereleasing circuit L 254 and feeding the coloring and smoke producingmeans 7 and 8 together with the explosive charge 78' releasing theaerial (FIG. 5).

The latter is then raised into its erect position by its motor 68energized by the closing ofthe contact 296 of the relay 294 which isdelayed with reference to the relay 294', The relay 294 is held closedby its catch 295 so as to switch offits circuit and also that of therelay 294' at 298. It is thus possible to cut out any uselessconsumption of current as soon as the signalling and aerial system isstarted.

On the other hand, the pressure gauge 280 has set upon reversal of itsoperation its contact 291 at 291A so as to energize the relay 323 whichconnects the contact 292 of the pressure gauge 281 no longer asprecedingly through the contact 322 with the relay 326 but through thecontact 324 whereby 326 is no longer operative.

If when emersed the buoy is transiently drowned by strong marine streamsfor instance, the pressure gauge 280 subjected again to a higherpressure switches off 293 and restores the contact 291A and shifts itback to 291 whereby the contact 324 being still in its closed conditionthe relay 331 is energized. Said relay is delayed and if at the end of15 sec. for instance the pressure gauge 280 is still closed, the relay331 closes its contact 332 which energizes as in the preceding case thearrangement 205 which cuts off the rope. The delay of 15 sec. providedfor 331 prevents the breaking of the rope if the buoy has been drownedonly transiently say by the passage of a wave.

The proper operative condition of all the parts of the buoy is checkedfrom the outside without any dismantling through the studs P collectedwithin one or more housings 9 as already mentioned, said studs beingconnected with the different points to be checked.

The buoy includes furthermore a self-generating telephone station 207(FIGS. 5 and 16) of any known type whereby the wires within the rope 16ensure a telephone connection between the submarine and the emergencybuoy. An operation of the switch 209 in the submarine casing 201connects said telephone station through automatic switch 208 with thecarrier waves of the wireless transmitter 301 whereby the crew maycommunicate directly through wireless telephone with remote stations assoon as the buoy has emersed so that it is possible to broadcastimmediately the circumstances of the wrecking and the conditions onboard and relief may be brought as soon as possible. The buoy resumesautomatically its coded emergency signalling if the crew does not resortto the possibility thus afforded ofa wireless telephone, the switch 209returning automatically into the corresponding position providingtelephone connection with the buoy if it is not held purposely in theposition corresponding to wireless telephone.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment allowing a buoy to lock that length ofrope which allows it to emerge normally while it may be released againautomatically if any marine stream of tide requires such a release. Thebuoy carries the whole rope within a casing as illustrated in FIG. 13.The rope 16 (FIG. 17) passes through a central channel 601 extendinglaterally into a recess 602 enclosing an eccentric cam 603 rigid with aspindle 603 carrying an arm 606 urged back by a spring 607 and a furtherarm 608 held fast by a stud 609 adapted to be released by theelectromagnet 610. The cam 603 may be collapsed by a fluidtightelectromagnet 612 the core 611 of which is held fast at the end ofitsstroke by the catch 613 adapted to be released by a third electromagnet614. The rope passes in front of the opening 615 of a chamber containinga fluidtight explosive charge 617 adapted to break the rope upon firingthrough the agency of the wire 618. The operation of this arrangement iscontrolled by the circuit illustrated in FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is a wiringdiagram replacing the section of FIG. 5 extending between the points Wand Wl. Upon release of the buoy the circuit L 254 is subjected to the6-volt voltage as precedingly. As long as the buoy is immersed thecontacts of the pressure gauges 280 and 281 are in the positionillustrated, the electromagnet 610 is energized and releases the arm608. The electromagnet 612 is energized by 292 B and draws the camrearwardly. The rope is thus allowed to unwind freely within its channeland as in the case of the diagram illustrated in FIG. 5 pulses are sentthrough the relay 326 once every 16 sec. towards 325 and 330 and therope breaks automatically if at the end of a number of pulses, say 30,the buoy has not yet reached sea level in the case ofa fortuitoushindrance preventing the rope from unwinding normally, When the buoyreaches sea level the contact 291 enters the position 291 A, the contact292 is cut off, the contact 292 B enters the position 292 C andenergizes the electromagnet 614 which releases the core 611 of theelectromagnet 612. The spring 607 returns the cam 609 into its originalposition and locks thus the rope in the channel provided for it, thecatch 613 opening the circuit of its electromagnet at the end of itstravel and remaining in position as provided by a notch in the core 611.The latter during its return movement closes the contact 620. Thecontact 291 entering the position 291 A energizes the relay 323 whichswitches off the contact 334 feeding the electromagnet 610 and thecontact in the circuit 329, 330 and lastly it opens its own circuit 325at the end of the stroke.

If the tractional stress exerted by the rope under the action of thetide or of a marine stream causes the buoy to be immersed again, thecontacts at 291 and 292 are restored and operate the relay 326 but not329 which has been cut off once and for all at X upon emergence of thebuoy by 323. In contradistinction 292 B energizes 612 which releasesthrough the relay 611 the cam 603 which has been locked at the end ofits stroke which allows the rope to unwind freely again.

If at the end of 16 sec. the buoy remains immersed, the core 611 isreleased by the electromagnet 614 which is energized by thedeenergization of 326. However as soon as the contact 620 is restored,612 is energized and the core 611 moves rearwardly and is locked againin its rearmost position by 613; this disengages the cam 603 and allowsthe rope to unwind freely again during 16 sec. and so on until the buoyreturning normally to sea level causes 292 B to assume the position 292C whereby the rope is again held fast while 611 is released.

If the buoy is constrained to unwind the entire length of the ropewithout being capable of rising to sea level, in such a case a knob 641is carried by the last unit length of the rope closes the contact 640fed by 291 and 292 whereby the explosive charge 617 breaking the rope isfired and the buoy is completely released and becomes a mere emergencybuoy transmitting automatically its coded wireless and optic signals.

FIG. 19 illustrates a modification of the means securing the point atwhich the rope exerts a tractional stress on the buoy, said figureillustrated also the rope-breaking means. A fluidtight recessed member509 formed within the body of the buoy is provided with four bosses 510carrying two plates 502 and 503 secured by bolts 504. The rope 16 isclamped between the two plates and passes freely in registry with anopening 505 formed in the plates. The recessed member 509 encloses afluidtight unit 508 screwed inside said recess which carries also afluidtight explosive charge 506 which may be fired by the lanyard 511.The charge is protected by a fluidtight cover 507 adapted to resist themaximum pressure to which the buoy may be subjected when immersed atmaximum depth.

FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the automatic buoy releasing meanswhen the submarine is sunk to a considerable depth, said arrangementcorresponding to that of the means illustrated at 14 in FIG. 5. 709designates a recessed member providing an electric connection with theswitch 4 (FIG. 5). In said recess there is screwed a fluidtight systemoperating through a breaking of a diaphragm constituted by the body 715enclosing a fluidtight piston 71] held by a spring 712 in contact withthe fluidtight diaphragm 713 held in position by the screwed ring 716,said diaphragm being broken open when the depth is greater than thegauged maximum allowed depth of immersion, say 40 bars. A cover 717 ofporous plastic material allows only slow modifications in pressure toact on the diaphragm whereas sudden modifications are damped andinoperative. When the diaphragm has been thrust open by the pressure ofwater, the fluidtight electrodes 41 are crushed by the piston 711 andshort circuit the switch 41 whereby the buoy is released and the rope isbroken at 205 (FIG. 5). In fact the rope is no longer of any interest atsuch considerable depths.

It is important to remark that in all the accompanying wiring diagramscurrent flows through the circuit only during the very short timerequired for the movements of the contacts and that the circuits areautomatically opened at the end of their operation, whereby theconsumption of current is reduced to a minimum which is extremelyimportant for a buoy carrying with it the totality of the electricenergy it requires.

All the circuits provided with contacts as illustrated in the variousdiagrams include preferably transistorized parts or else flat circuitelements with double balanced contacts of a high mechanical reliabilitywhile they are not disturbed by the most violent shocks andaccelerations produced by the releasing of the buoy by explosive chargesopening the securing pins.

The buoys described are perfectly complete and autonomous machines andare released in all the cases to be considered while fulfilling underthe best conditions their duty of information including possiblyimmediate transmission to remote stations between a stranded submarineand remote stations which may bring relief.

What I claim is: e

1. A buoy adapted to be released by a disabled submarine comprising afloat body, moorings detachably securing the buoy to the submarine,means adapted to cut out said moorings, a signalling system carried bythe buoy and adapted to operate after release of the buoy upon cuttingout of the securing means and rising of the buoy to sea level, a circuitadapted to operate the mooring cutting out means and including twosections carried respectively by the submarine and by the buoy and leadselectrically connecting said sections as long as the moorings areoperative, a device carried by the buoy and adapted to energize thecircuit section in the buoy to operate said means immediately after thesubmarine has sunk down to an unauthorized depth, a control operable atany moment by the crew inside the submarine and energizing the circuitsection in the submarine and thereby the second circuit section tooperate said means, two interconnected similar delaying systems carriedrespectively by the buoy and submarine and of which the system in thebuoy operates the mooring cutting out means at the end of apredetermined delay and means adapted to be actuated by the crew in thesubmarine before the end of the delay provided by the delaying systemsto reset said systems to prevent their operation.

2. In a buoy as claimed in claim 1 the provision of a rope connectingthe buoy with the submarine and unwound by the buoy as it rises whenreleased.

3. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signalling system includesan aerial carried within the top of the buoy, a wireless transmittercarried by the buoy and means whereby the transmitter is energized andthe aerial is erected above the buoy and connected with the transmitteras soon as the buoy has been released and has reached sea level.

4. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signalling system includesan aerial carried within the top of the buoy, a wireless transmittercarried by the buoy, optical signalling means, means whereby thetransmitter is energized and the aerial is erected above the buoy and isconnected with the transmitter as soon as the buoy has been released andhas reached sea level, and means rendering the optical signalling meansoperative as soon as the buoy has actually reached sea level.

5. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the delaying system includes anadjustable time-measuring mechanism and a switch inserted in the buoycircuit section and adapted to be closed at the end of a predetermineddelay by the time-measuring mechanism to cut out the mooring, theresetting means including an auxiliary control operable by the crew andoperation of which returns speedily the time-measurin g mechanisms intotheir starting positions.

6. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mooring cutting out meansare constituted by explosive charges.

7. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 including testing studs connected withvarious points of the buoy circuit section and lying on the outersurface of the buoy and a cover protecting said studs against action ofwater.

8. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a rope connecting the buoywith the submarine, coiled between them and adapted to unwind when thereleased buoy rises towards sea level with telephone wires enclosedwithin the rope, a wireless receiver carried by the buoy, means wherebysaid receiver transmits automatically coded signals as soon as the buoyhas reached sea level and means adapted to make the crew of thesubmarine communicate with said transmitter through said wires tobroadcast spoken intelligence through said transmitter.

9. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a rope connecting the buoywith the submarine, coiled between them and adapted to unwind when thereleased buoy rises towards sea level with its telephone wires enclosedwithin the rope, a wireless receiver carried by the buoy, means wherebysaid receiver transmits coded signals as soon as the buoy has reachedsea level and means adapted to make the crew of the submarinecommunicate with said transmitter through said wires to broadcastintelligence through said transmitter, and means breaking off the ropewhen the buoy has risen by a height equal to the rope length withoutreaching sea level.

10. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 including means preventing energizationof the circuit section in the buoy.

11. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 including a low voltage battery in thesubmarine adapted to feed the resetting means, a battery ofa highervoltage, a relay through which said higher voltage operates the mooringcutting off means upon operation of the control by the crew, said relaybeing nonsensitive to the low voltage.

12. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a battery of a low voltagein the'buoy which energizes the corresponding circuit upon operation ofthe control and of the energizing device, an auxiliary circuitcontrolled by the circuit section in the buoy and actuating thesignalling system and a further battery of a higher voltage carried bythe buoy to feed said auxiliary circuit.

13. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a battery of a low voltagein the buoy of which one energizes the corresponding circuit uponoperation of the control and of the energizing device, an auxiliarycircuit controlled by the circuit section in the buoy and actuating thesignalling system and a further battery of a higher voltage carried bythe buoy to feed said auxiliary circuit and furthermore pressure gaugescontrolling the unwinding of the rope in accordance with the transientmodifications in sea level.

14. In a buoy as claimed in claim 1, the provision ofa rope connectingthe buoy with the submarine and unwound by the buoy as it rises whenreleased and means adapted to lock the rope against further unwindingwhen the buoy has reached sea level before complete unwinding of therope.

1. A buoy adapted to be released by a disabled submarine comprising a float body, moorings detachably securing the buoy to the submarine, means adapted to cut out said moorings, a signalling system carried by the buoy and adapted to operate after release of the buoy upon cutting out of the securing means and rising of the buoy to sea level, a circuit adapted to operate the mooring cutting out means and including two sections carried respectively by the submarine and by the buoy and leads electrically connecting said sections as long as the moorings are operative, a device carried by the buoy and adapted to energize the circuit section in the buoy to operate said means immediately after the submarine has sunk down to an unauthorized depth, a control operable at any moment by the crew inside the submarine and energizing the circuit section in the submarine and thereby the second circuit section to operate said means, two interconnected similar delaying systems carried respectively by the buoy and submarine and of which the system in the buoy operates the mooring cutting out means at the end of a predetermined delay and means adapted to be actuated by the crew in the submarine before the end of the delay provided by the delaying systems to reset said systems to prevent their operation.
 2. In a buoy as claimed in claim 1 the provision of a rope connecting the buoy with the submarine and unwound by the buoy as it rises when released.
 3. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signalling system includes an aerial carried within the top of the buoy, a wireless transmitter carried by the buoy and means whereby the transmitter is energized and the aerial is erected above the buoy and connected with the transmitter as soon as the buoy has been released and has reached sea level.
 4. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the signalling system includes an aerial carried within the top of the buoy, a wireless transmitter carried by the buoy, optical signalling means, means whereby the transmitter is energized and the aerial is erected above the buoy and is connected with the transmitter as soon as the buoy has been released and has reached sea level, and means rendering the optical signalling means operative as soon as the buoy has actually reached sea level.
 5. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the delaying system includes an adjustable time-measuring mechanism and a switch inserted in the buoy circuit section and adapted to be closed at the end of a predetermined delay by the time-measuring mechanism to cut out the mooring, the resetting means including an auxiliary control operable by the crew and operation of which returns speedily the time-measuring mechanisms into their starting positions.
 6. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mooring cutting out means are constituted by explosive charges.
 7. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 including testing studs connected with various points of the buoy circuit section and lying on the outer surface of the buoy and a cover protecting said studs against action of water.
 8. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a rope connecting the buoy with the submarine, coiled between them and adapted to unwind when the released buoy rises towards sea level with telephone wires enclosed within the rope, a wireless receiver carried by the buoy, means whereby said receiver transmits automatically coded signals as soon as the buoy has reached sea level and means adapted to make the crew of the submarine communicate with said transmitter through said wires to broadcast spoken intelligence through said transmitter.
 9. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a rope connecting the buoy with the submarine, coiled between them and adapted to unwind when the released buoy rises towards sea level with its telephone wires enclosed within the rope, a wireless receiver carRied by the buoy, means whereby said receiver transmits coded signals as soon as the buoy has reached sea level and means adapted to make the crew of the submarine communicate with said transmitter through said wires to broadcast intelligence through said transmitter, and means breaking off the rope when the buoy has risen by a height equal to the rope length without reaching sea level.
 10. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 including means preventing energization of the circuit section in the buoy.
 11. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 including a low voltage battery in the submarine adapted to feed the resetting means, a battery of a higher voltage, a relay through which said higher voltage operates the mooring cutting off means upon operation of the control by the crew, said relay being nonsensitive to the low voltage.
 12. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a battery of a low voltage in the buoy which energizes the corresponding circuit upon operation of the control and of the energizing device, an auxiliary circuit controlled by the circuit section in the buoy and actuating the signalling system and a further battery of a higher voltage carried by the buoy to feed said auxiliary circuit.
 13. A buoy as claimed in claim 1 comprising a battery of a low voltage in the buoy of which one energizes the corresponding circuit upon operation of the control and of the energizing device, an auxiliary circuit controlled by the circuit section in the buoy and actuating the signalling system and a further battery of a higher voltage carried by the buoy to feed said auxiliary circuit and furthermore pressure gauges controlling the unwinding of the rope in accordance with the transient modifications in sea level.
 14. In a buoy as claimed in claim 1, the provision of a rope connecting the buoy with the submarine and unwound by the buoy as it rises when released and means adapted to lock the rope against further unwinding when the buoy has reached sea level before complete unwinding of the rope. 